where does the club go from here?
 

"lets concentrate on the football until the end of the season. Everything can wait til the season is over" Ilyas Khan on completion of the takeover.


or words to that effect anyway. We know that IK wants the share issue to be sorted out so I would expect that an announcement to happen within a couple of weeks. So get your purses at the ready .....

The squad and Coley/Bell situation needs to be resolved pronto .... If Coley has been offered another job and intends to take it we'll hear about it tomorrow/the day after at the latest. Coley can't be allowed to dictate which players he wants to offer new terms to or not and then disappear a day or two later. If Coley intends to leave then what price Jimmy Bell staying on? I cant think of a better option in our price bracket than giving the job to Coley's trusted lieutenant. And that would possibly prevent half the squad following him. But of course the best option is that Coley turns his phone off and goes nowhere.

A hundred and one thinks need improving at the club but much will depend on where IK intends to go with his vision for the new stadium. If that is still a goer then I'd like to see an announcement made soon. The club is rightly disappointed this morning, but yet strangley we are still high on the crest of a wave. Ilyas needs to use that platform and push the club further into the positive spotlight with his plans. He has grand plans for sure and now would be an ideal time to capitalise on them. It could be instrumental in persuading certain players and staff to renew their contracts.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Not to mention the extra numbers who have turned up over recent games and the media spotlight that has been glaring at the Crown Ground for the last few weeks and brought us more free publicity than our wildest imaginations.

But there may have to be a short pause for everyone to take stock of where they are at.

Perhaps to go away and think about what they have all achieved and what the next chapter holds in store whether at the Crown Ground or in pastures new?

It will be a transitional summer of that there is no doubt but one that should be more even keeled than the last few by at least knowing that come August we will be still kicking off in the Football League.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Next season we have to avoid doing a Morecambe, getting involved lower down the table. I said this two seasons ago but I think it's time for Coley to move on. He's done a fantastic job at the Crown he almost got us promoted but after all this time he deserves a crack at League One with Rochdale or Bury. Who knows he could even get Rochdale up to the Championship.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

To quote the thread title - UP to league one next season automatically.
Sri theresonlyoneaccy, I cannot agree with the statement of its time for Coley to move on. He has done a fantastic job here and can easily continue in that vein. We have the nucleus of a brilliant squad, just wish he would be more changeable in his tactics i.e. I would have played 4-4-2 last night and it would have goosed Stevenage's game plan straight away. Substitutes are another of his little weaknesses, but hey we can forgive the messiah after all he has took us to the highest finish in League 2 ever, and assuming he stays, we tend to finish in a higher league position than the season before, Champions next season, its not out of the question!
My feeling is we lack height in certain areas especially in the forward line to complement Terry and target for Jimmy and Sean. We need a new Paul Mullin.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

At least this thread should occupy most of the closed season instead of being bored :)

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Behave........:rolleyes:

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

If we can keep the majority of our squad as well as our manager, add some quality players that dictate a fee, get a brand new pitch and keep away from missing payments to the taxman through good management at the top... we can go up automatically in 2011/12.

The imperative is stability.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Sammy McIllroy at Morecambe, they were in the play-offs and never reached that again. That's why I think he should move on.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Coleman move on?!? DO ME A FAVOUR.

If he does then good luck to him, but he IS Accrington Stanley.

I think in his heart of hearts he wants to take us to League One, and just look how close we came this season.

Keep the majority of the squad together and we have a chance, simple.

The priority must be to keep Coley & Bell at the helm, then we can start building from there.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

He said last night he's had no approach from anyone & is staying :)

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

BEST news of the night !!!

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Undoubtedly there will be a few fall outs and handbag shaking of the course of the next couple of months.

I hope this thread and others in the same vain will be used constructively to build opinion and direction for the coming season. This season started out with the promise of new community based ownership of the club and a bright new future for Accrington Stanley; despite continuing debts, let downs and broken promises the team led by Coley and Jimmy turn out a stunning performance that led us to the playoffs. We aimed high, we finished fifth; the highest position ever achieved by this club Accrington Stanley 1968.

John Coleman's body language through the latter months of the season caused me concern; he spoke out on the wages issue and made clear is feeling.

Question: is this John venting his frustration only or is there a void in the relationship between him and the club.

In respect of John and Jimmy I hope and pray that the club recognise the unique contribution of this pair have made to the club and the town and in the cold light of day there is no one in any of the leagues that can give us what these guys have; even at ten times the price. Talking of allowing them to go under any circumstance is utter foolishness if not blind stupidity.

Question: Do we ASFC under IK or anybody else need to spend millions on a new stadium at a time when money could be spent upgrading the Crown and investing in a team for automatic promotion nest season's end.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

I feel better already :)

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

After reading the piece in the LT, ( can't copy paste but you can find it easy), about the assistant ref say your wanted a strong ref did'nt you, to coley, and the ref saying your always moaning, now this make's me wonder weather the Football League really do want Stanley in the League 1, thinking that they send us a strong Ref like Booth, If Coley and Jimmy stay at the club, we will have to see what sort of reffing decisions we will get next season, time will tell , Hope i am wrong and i am sure we will be stronger next season

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

cheers jase, thats a sneck lifter.:)

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Keith Hill is leaving Rochdale for Barnsley apparently and Bury need a new manage, will it really be that long before an approach is made?

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

as nice as a shiny new ground would be, you have to kind of agree with that sentiment. The point of moving would be to ensure ways of building income throughout the year are included, can these ways be included into the existing footprint of The Crown?

Personally I'd rather stay at The Crown and develop it. It could be argued that the footprint isn't big enough but I beg to differ. We only need to add a couple of thousand or so onto the capacity or we'd look daft every week with a ground that is only 15% full.

Instead of spending £5-10m on a new ground we could do a hell of a lot with that money and what we already have. The main stand could be extended backwards by a good few rows and the 'offices' built under the extension. The offices could be built further towards the turnstiles at each end giving another 30 foot or so. The Cow shed can obviously be fully rebuilt the whole way down and used primarily as the family stand with massive deals built in with cheap food and family admission prices designed to fill it. At the new silly (IMO) prices you'd have to look at a family of four for £30 and a bucket of food for a tenner or something similar. The away end wants to be all seater and roofed, then we can rid the Clayton End of the disease of seating. Get the away fans sat down, insulate the roof with sound deadening egg boxes or summat and kill the atmosphere. Spend a right good chunk of money on the clubhouse. Embiggen (Homer says it is a word) it and tart it up properly, get some proper boxes built in so that they are separate (upstairs?) and then it can be used properly. I've always said that the clubhouse should be the heartbeat of everything, it should be used every day for a whole host of things and that is what we have to aim for.


Of course, we still don't fully know what Ilyas has in store or what his entire vision is. It might be that the isn't a cat in hells chance of doing what he wants on the current site. We do know that the stadium build isn't a gift to Stanley per se, but he wants it to be his legacy to the whole community. So perhaps that is why the Central Car Sales at Church is high on the priority list? To incorporate the Sports Centre into the whole shebang? We don't know until the great man speaks, but if that particular thing isnt going to come off then look at developing what we have and put a little more money into the squad and/or training facilities

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

There's hard graft, grief and tears built into the foundations of the crown; it's the spiritual birth place of ASFC 68 and the whole Stanley community has touched upon it in someway or other. The ultras and generations of supporters have built it's atmosphere out of the clay they've stood on. Why would we want a new shiny sterile stadium that isn't even in Accrington really. It's taken years for some to get over Peel Park; for other they never will accept any other place than the old battle ground.

The reality is that there's little or no change in the fortunes of the Town for years to come if ever. All Accrington has to offer is it's history and a big part of that is built around two Football Grounds and Two Clubs. The blood, sweat and tears of players and supporters is riddle in the clay. That's ours already and if we part with it the bulldozers have had their say and wipe it all away forever.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Well I chuck my 10 pence worth in.

As much as I have liked the crown over the years, this season we have seen it simply is not up to the job. Especially at hosting big games and everything that comes with them.

The main problem as everybody knows is the disaster that is the pitch. No matter what is done to it, we are still going to have the same problems as the run off from one side of the quarry leads directly underneath the pitch. Loads of rain = Raising of the water table = flooded pitch, it aint rocket science.

My ideal scenario would be to re-locate and incorporate the Sports Centre as part of ASFC, that way the club could earn money ALL day EVERY day from the use of the sports facilities. Our lads would then have a superb place to use the gym, astroturf pitch, swimming pool etc etc. Dont get me wrong I think moving over to Blackburn Rugby club has been a great move but we really could do with something we could call "our own"

Ive said it a few times, but something in a similar vein to that which Burton Albion have would be ideal. Its the perfect size, has everything a supporter needs and could easily be used for other sporting events and concerts if needed. Ok some people may not be a fan of the modern grounds but given the problems we have had, something NEEDS to be done.

As Proccy said on Late Kick Off the other week........... "The Crown Ground is rather past its sell by date" ........... I Would have to agree.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

what other sporting events and concerts happen in accrington? we are in recession and i think we would regret moving any where at this time.stanley should build strong foundations and build on what weve already got building the support creating habits for the people of accrington so they will visit the crown every home game.lets not get carried away rome wasnt built in a day.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

spot on smudge, yeh cant make a silk purse outa a sows ear, sentiment is nuts.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Whatever happens we are where we are for now and I would like to see some improved facilities particulary for home fans, last night was awash behind the Clayton End with people on the food & drink side of things which goes to show with promotions that people will use the facilities as they are.

It need not cost the earth I wouldn't have thought maybe some feasibity in some kind of awnings that could perhaps attached to the back of the Clayton End and could be brought down in inclement weather and popped back up when not in use it could also be prime advertising space.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

onwards and upwards ....

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Whatever we're going to do as a club, we'd better do it quick, as according to t'fishy site, we're starting our next season's campaign at the Don Valley Stadium a week on Wednesday!! :eek:

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THat comment about Booth being a strong ref is a mickey take, if he'd been strong he'd have put a stop to Satanage's time wasting antics from the start - the only strong thing about him was his little legs as he sped off into the changing rooms - is it even in the rules that you can blow the final whistle after you've left the pitch??

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Seen it too Wyn, couldn't believe my eyes, wheres the fixture list for next season?
Onto the thread though, Whilst I agree and disagree with a lot of the sentiments on here i.e. move to Central Car sales and Sports Centre site. That would be a traffic nightmare! To redevelop the Crown, Yes and no, we have enough problems with the residents of Livingstone Road, if the folk on the Whinney Hill Estate cannot watch the match for free, there will be uproar.
Seriously though, that would be my preferred option, Upgrade the Whinney Hill terrace to incorporate sponsors boxes and corporate facilities, roof over Coppice Terrace and make all seated. Generally upgrade facilities ie changing rooms and car parking. Macca I am not sure the current main stand could be extended to the rear, but I am no surveyor or Building expert. Whatever happens, as Macca says, we must wait for the IK to make the statement:)

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Im sorry but there is no future for Accrington Stanley at the Crown Ground. Lets list some issues:

Access
Foundations
Neighbours
Expansion Capacity
Total need for complete re-haul
Car Parking
Lack of ownership

These are just off the top of my head without thinking.

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

i think the main issue pronto has to be the retained list n contracts, then see where that takes us?;)

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

would think a great place for the club to start to getting the accounts up to date at companies house

WebCHeck - Select and Access Company Information

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

Keith Hill is going nowhere, turned Barnsley down

BBC Sport - Keith Hill stays at Rochdale after talks with Barnsley

Re: where does the club go from here?
 

And Bradford have sorted themselfs a new manager BfB: Peter Jackson to be confirmed as Bradford City manager